Indonesian Transportation-- move it move it

Ground transportation in Indonesia can be really inexpensive.  Large charter buses can take you for a 24 hour ride across the country for less than $15.  However, while large buses are great for long distance trips, the cheap in-town options are much sweeter...


The Bemo

A Bemo is a small public bus that runs between cities.  Usually a little bit bigger than a 15-seat van but smaller than a "short bus" a bemo is designed to seat 16 or so.  However, it usually seats 24 or more.  We once took a 2 hour bemo that sqeezed in almost 30 people and I had a 6 year old boy with his head in my arm pit for about 90 percent of the time.  It was a very rewarding experience for both of us.

(The bemo also evidently makes Indonesians very sleepy)

The Dokar

Want to go old school? Hang like the Amish?  Then the dokar is for you! Just an old fashioned wagon pulled by a horse.  That's pretty much it, you can only say so much.

The Becak

Hate horses? Like to make actual people work so that you can get from point A to B? Hire a becak (pronounciation: Bay-Chak) to pedal you from place to place.  Ah, human labor, making transportation so much sweeter for so many centuries.

The Oplet

Do you ever feel like you're too fancy for the city bus? Is there too much room between you and the sweaty man carrying a bag full of raw fish? Move to Indonesia and jump right into an oplet! These privately run buses can take you, and 10 of your closest friends and 4 strangers, anywhere you need to go in the city for only 50 cents! However, be aware, in Padang, Sumatra, the oplets have somehow agreed to pimp their rides into techno oplets complete with blaring techno music, LED lights, and sweet exterior body work bringing them only inches from the ground.

Sepeda
Take a ride, it's as easy as riding a bike.  Because it is a bike. Just be careful, because sometimes the road turns into, well, no road. Oh, and a lot of times the "12 gear" bike is really a 1 gear, and that gear is slow y'all.

Sepeda Motor
Allllllll right. Scoot scoot scoot.  What makes you look tougher than riding a scooter? NOTHING! Motorcyles are for wusses... wusses with leather jackets.  Scooters are for the truly bad ass.

Jalan Kaki
Indonesian for going by foot. That's right. The cheapest transport in town. Legs. In fact, I have two.  Holla. They might be slow and don't look as good as I want in a swimsuit.  But they are always there. Gotta love those guys!